Automatic time-controlled sprinkler systems



Sept. 19, 1961 G. LINK AUTOMATIC TIME-CONTROLLED SPRINKLER SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 27, 1955 INVENTOR. 6 05774 1/ L z/wc, BY

Sept. 19, 1961 G. LINK AUTOMATIC TIME-CONTROLLED SPRINKLER SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 )riginal Filed Nov. 27, 1953 gusrm/ Znvz,

INVENTOR.

United fStates Patent 3,000,398 AUTOMATIC TIB IE-COTNfiLLED SPRINKLER 7 Claims. (Cl. l37-624.16)

This invention relates to automatic time-controlled sprinkler systems, and more particularly to a sprinkler system which can be connected to a plurality of area control valves, whereby said control valves can be selectively and automatically opened and closed, being allowed to remain open a predetermined period of time, and to be automatically closed to stop the sprinkling operation controlled thereby.

This application is -a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 394,769,-filed November 27, 1953. now abandoned, for AutomaticTime-Controlled Sprinkler System.

Another object of the invention is to provide as a part of said sprinkler system means whereby it can be set to turn on any one or more of a number of sprinklers for selected areas, to operate a definite time, and then to be automatically shut off;

To provide a motor-driven control system having a worm and worm-gear drive, with means whereby the mechanism can be selectively and automatically set by the use of a time clock so that it will operate automatically, as set, to go on, or to turn off, according to the time setting; also whereby to selectively start the particular part of the sprinkler system covering a specific area to be sprinkled, and to determine the length of time it is to operate.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment of the invention, taken with the accompanying two sheets of drawings illustrating the same, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view showing various parts of my time controlled system, including one control valve connected therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a plurality of control valves connected with a main line supply, each control valve having a supply pipe for a particular area, with branch pipes therefrom, and sprinkler heads for said branch pipes, and also showing the water supply tubes to said control valves for operating them;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a control valve, taken on line 3-3 through the valve shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view, with parts broken away, to show the drive connections from a motor and showing a setting dial with adjustable switch contact elements and a micro switch to be actuated thereby;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional detail on line 5-5, on FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a control unit, showing a water tube therefrom to be connected with a control valve;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a part as seen from line 7-7 on FIG. 6; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the operating stem of the control unit, seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I will describe the embodiment of the invention here illustrated for explan-atory purposes;

Referring to FIG. 2, I have shown four control valves, each designated 10, and all connected to a main line of water supply, designated 10', and each having a main water pipe, as 11 therefrom, and $3611 pipe 1.1 havi g 3,000,398 Patented Sept. 19, 1961 a pluralty of branch pipes, as 12, with sprinkler heads 12 on their ends. In this view, four different areas are shown, which, of course, would be spread out so that each area could include an acre, more or less. Each control valve 10 is operated by water pressure from a small tube, as 13, coupled to its upper portion, as seen in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1, one of the small tubes 13 is shown connected with control valve 10, and also vn'th the control unit, designated 14, and to which a series of small tubes 13, 13, are connected, one for each control valve 10 of the system. One of the control valves with its connection is shown in section in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the details of construction and arrangement of the control unit 14 are shown. A base plate is designated 15, and is shown in two plates, the lower one 15 having the several connecting holes 13 for water tubes to be connected therewith, thus making it possible to remove both plates for inspection or repair, and then to remove the middle plate 15' without disconnecting the water tubes 13 from the plate 15. A central vent opening 16 is shown through said plates, surrounded by the series of holes 13, for the tubes 13, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7. A water supply tube, as 15a, is connected through said plates 15, 15', as will be understood from FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7. This tube is also connected with the main water pipe, as indicated in FIG. 2, for'supplying water pressure within the control unit 14, and thence to the different control valves 10, 10.

A rotatable valve block or member 17 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, having on its under side a connecting channel 17, which can be turned to connect any one of the tubes 13, with the central vent opening 16, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Said rotatable block or valve member '17 has a turning stem, as 18, connected therewith at one end, said stem being extended into the lower end of an operating tube 19, with a coiled spring 20 therein normally pressing said stem and said member 17 down on the plate 15, and the holes 13' therein, as seen in FIG. 6. Said operating tube 19 is extended up through the upper portion 14' of the control unit 14, as seen in FIG. 6, and is provided with a worm gear 21 secured thereto to turn therewith. Said worm gear 21, has a spring-pressed ratchet pawl 22 thereon, to operate on a ratchet wheel 22' on the lower end of a shaft extension 19', to prevent turning in one direction, while it is driven by a worm 23, connected with a gear reduction unit 24, on a motor M, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and also in FIG. 1. The operating shaft 19 for the control unit 14 is extended upwardly from said ratchet, and is provided above said ratchet wheel thereon, with a collar 25, having a projecting finger 26 therefrom, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, said finger being rotatable with said collar and said shaft 19', and positioned to engage a spring contact member 27, from a micro switch 28, as seen in FIG. 4. Said micro switch 28 is operated after a complete revolution of the control mechanism of the system for the purpose of stopping the whole operation, except for the 24 hour electric control clock 40.

Said micro switch 28 is mounted on a platform 29, supported above a base 30, as by means of a pillar 29.

- Rotatably mounted on the upper end, of a shaft 31, which is extended up through the platform 29, is a time disc 32 having adjustably attached around its periphery a series of contact elements, as 33, any number of which can be arranged around said disc and secured in place thereon,

' as by means of screws 33, as seen in FIG. 4. Said elements are positioned to engage a switch finger 34 projecting from a micro switch 35, supported on a block 29, on the platform 29. Said finger has a contact roller 34' on its end, as clearly seen in FIGS. 4 and 1, to be intermitturns with the shaft 19.

in FIG. 3.

tently engaged and moved by said elements 33 as they reach said finger 34.

The lower end of the shaft 31, which supports and turns said time disc '32, is connected to a reduction unit v36, forming a part of an electric motor 37, suspended under the platform 29, as seen in FIG. 1.

At the upper end of the operating shaft 19, is a time setting disc 38, rigidly supported on an upper platform 39,.one end of which platform 39 is supported on the 'detail. on the upper end of said shaft 19', for turning it, is a handle pointer, designated 41, whereby said shaft and the projecting finger 26, on the shaft below, can be turned by hand to 'any desired position. The ratchet wheel 22. on the lower end of the shaft extension 19' can be turned in one direction without turning the worm gear 21, which is secured to the tube 1? Proper from the control unit 14, the pawl being on the worm gear and moving therewith, While the ratchet wheel is secured to and Referring to FIG. 3, I will describe the control valve which is actuated by water pressure through the water tube 13, before referred to. Said control valve is standard make. It is similar, for example, to that shown in U.S."Patent No. 1,606,245, issued Nov. 6, 1926, on an application filed July 7, 1923.

The body of the control valve has therein a concentrio inlet extension or short tube portion 10a, upon which the tapered end 1% of a valve member We sets, as seen Said valve member 100 has formed in its top an annular trough-like recess 10d, and in its top center a hole 10e to receive the stem 10f of a dome head 10g, as clearly shown.

The head of said control valve has a screw 10h therethrough, as shown, said screw having its inner end to engage the dome head 10g on said valve member 100. Said screw can be turned by means of its stem 101, when it is desired to hold said valve member 10c from rising.

In operation, the valve 10b10c is normally held closed by the water pressure from'the water tube 13, in the upper chamber of said valve body, thus closing the passageway from supply pipe 10' out to the distributing pipe 11 and to the area to be sprinkled. This pressure is constant, for the main water supply pressure is connected with the control unit inlet a, whereby the pressure in said control unit chamber 14a and said water tubes 13 is that of the water system.

By turning the worm-gear 21 and the block valve member 17 to connect any one of the outlet holes 13 and its tube 13 with the central vent opening 16, it also vents the chamber above the valve 10c, which permits the water supply pressure through pipe 10' to force the valve 10b open and allows water from the supply to flow to pipe 11 and that particular control valve and to its particular area and branch pipes 12, 12. This'sprinkling operation continues until the block valve member 17 is moved by the worm gear to expose said opening 13' to the water tube 13, whereby .to cut oh its communication with the vent opening 16, and permitting the pressure in the control unit 14 to pass out through said tube 13 to its control valve and to close said control valve and shut off the sprinkling operation from that particular control valve. tin other words, the pressure in the control unit 14 is open to all control valves for holding them closed, except the one which is open to the vent opening 16 through the block valve member 17, as seen in FIG. 6. This vent allows the pressure in that particular control valve to escape and the main water pressure of the system opens the valve 19c and starts water flowing from pipe 10' to and through pipe 11 and to the sprinkling heads connected with that particular control valve. Thus the movements of the block valve member 17, by the worm gear operates through the control unit to control the control valves.

V 4 The use and operation of the invention may be briefly described as follows:

Assuming that the apparatus, at the time clock 40, has been plugged in for the electric service, the main switch S is closed, the motors M and 37 are started. If the clock is set to start the motors at six oclo'ck am, they will be started at that time or at any other time for which it is set. In the specific circuit shown in PKG. 2 by way of illustration of one embodiment of the invention, the motors M and 37 will operate until the first contact element on the timing disc operates the micro switch 35 at which time the motor M stops, with the valve 17 positioned over the first port 13,, as seen in FIG. 7, which releases the control valve 10:: and permits the sprinkling operation from pipe 10', out through the pipe 11 as'before described. The motor 37 continues to operate and the sprinkling operation continues until such time as, the first contact 33 passes the switch 35 and the said switch is disengaged. When the switch is disengaged the motor M is again put into operation and continues to rotate the valve 17 until the second contact element 33 disengages the micro switch 35,

at which time the motor M is again stopped, with the valve 17 positioned over the second or next selected port 13', putting the second or next selected sprinkling operation into effect. The second sprinkling operation, like the first, continues until the second contact element 33 is disengaged from the micro switch 35, at which time the motor M is again put into operation until the next or subsequent contact operates the micro switch 35 and the next micro switch and causing each subsequent sprinkling oper sprinkling operation is put into effect. The timing disc continues to rotate, moving each subsequent contact element 33 thereon into and out of engagement with the ation to be performed.

When the valve 17 has completed its cycle, the finger 26 on the shaft 19' engages and opens the micro switch 28 which stops the motors 37 and M and until the clock 40 again starts the motors. The adjustable contact elements 33 on the time disc 32 makes it possible to select the sprinkling control valves 10 to be operated, as may be desired, and to operate according to the time setting of the contact elements. The motors are synchronized and move very slowly. The spacing of the. contact elements, or the length of the contact surface of the contact elements, as indicated in a longer contact element 33' on FIG. 4, gives 7 almost perfect control of the time of operation of the particular control valve which is released to permit the sprinkling operation to start, when it will come on and when it will be shut off.

I do not limit the invention to the details of construction and arrangement here shown'and described for explanatory purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A control system for use in controlling the flow of water from a water main'to branch sprinkler pipes by way of a flow control valve interposed between the water main and each branch pipe comprising: a control unit embodying a rotary means operative to effect opening andclosing of flow control valves in succession so as to selectively establish water flow from the main to each of the branch pipm in succession; a first electric synchronous motor operatively connected to said control unit to rotate said rotary means, said first motor being connected in an electric control circuit; a control unit switch connected in series with said first motor; an actuating member rotatable with said rotary means and engageable with said switch for operating the latter; a timer unit having a rotary timer disc; a second synchronous electric motor connected to drive said disc; a timer switch connected in series with said first motor and said control unit switch; a plurality of spaced switch operating elements on said timer disc, each successively engageable in response to rotation of the disc to operate said timer switch for a period of time during engagement with each operating .ele-.

ment; said first motor being energized, with said control unit switch closed, in response to closing of said timer means effecting opening of said control circuit to terminate operation of said first motor; and means operable to move said actuating member to close said control circuit across said control unit switch.

2. A control system as defined in claim 1 in which said last named means includes manually engageable means for rotating said rotary means to move said actuating member out of engagement with said control unit switch.

3. A control system as defined in claim 1 in which said switch operating elements are readily adjustable circumferentially of said timer disc and relative to one another so as to vary the time interval between successive actuations of said timer switch.

4. A control system for use in controlling the flow of water from a water main to branch sprinkler pipes by way of a fiow control valve interposed between the water main and each branch pipe comprising: a control unit embodying a rotary means operative to efliect opening and closing of flow control valves in succession so as to establish water flow from the main to each of the branch pipes in succession; a first electric synchronous motor operatively connected to said control unit to rotate said rotary means, said first motor being connected in an electric control circuit; a control unit switch connected in series with said first motor; an actuating member rotatable with said rotary means and engageable with said switch for operating the latter; a timer unit having a rotary timer disc; a second synchronous electric motor operable only in dependency on closure of the control unit switch connected to drive said disc; a timer switch connected in series with said first motor and said control unit switch; a plurality of switch operating elements on said timer disc, each successively engageable in response to rotation of the disc to operate said timer switch for a period of time during engagement with each operating element; said first motor being. energized, with said control unit switch closed, in response to closing of said timer switch for the time required'to close one flow control valve and open a succeeding control valve; opening of said control unit switch in response to rotation of said rotary means eifecting opening of said control circuit to terminate operation of said first and second motors; manually engageable means for rotating said rotary means to move said actuating member out of engagement with said control unit svw'tch to close said control circuit; and a clock mechanism operated time switch connected to initially couple said control circuit to a power source for initiating a cycle of operation of said control unit.

5. A control system as defined in claim 1 in which said second motor is operable only in dependency on closure of the control unit switch.

6. A control system for use in controlling the flow of water from a water main to branch sprinkler pipes by way of a flow control valve interposed between the water main and each branch pipe comprising: a control unit embodying a rotary means operative to effect opening and closing of flow control valves in succession so as to selectively establish water flow from the main to each of the branch pipes in succession; a first electric synchronous motor operatively connected to said control unit to rotate said rotary means, said first motor being connected in an electric control circuit; a control unit switch connected in series with said first motor; an actuating member rotatable with said rotary means and engageable with said switch for operating the latter; a timer switch connected in series with said first motor and said control unit switch; a rotatable timer unit; a second synchronous electric motor connected to drive said timer unit; a plurality of switch controlling elements on said timer unit, each successively engageable in response to rotation of the timer unit to operate said timer switch for a period of time during engagement with each controlling element; said first motor being energized, with said control unit switch closed, in response to closing of said timer switch for the time required to close one flow control valve and opening a succeeding control valve; opening of said control unit switch in response to rotation of said rotary means effecting opening of said control circuit to terminate operation of said first motor; and means including said actuating member operable to close said control circuit across said control unit switch.

7. A control system for use in controlling the flow of water from a water main to branch sprinkler pipes by way of a control valve interposed between the water main and each branch pipe comprising: a control unit embodying a rotary means operated to efiect control of fluid control valves in succession so as to selectively establish water flow from the main to each of the branch pipes in succession; a first electric synchronous motor operatively connected to said control unit to rotate said rotary means, said first motor being connected in an electric control circuit; a control unit switch connected in series with said first motor; an actuating member rotatable with said rotary means and engageable with said switch for operating the latter; a timer unit having variable time switch control means; a second synchronous motor connected to drive said'switch control means; timer switching means con nected in the circuit with said first motor and said control unit switch, said switch control means in response to the driving by said second motor successively engage able with and to control said timer switching means for predetermined variable periods of time, said switch control means being adjustable whereby to vary said periods of time, said first motor being energized, with said control unit switch closed, in response to closing of said timer switching means for the time required to cause one flow control valve to close and a succeeding control valve to open; opening of said control unit switch in response to rotation of said rotary means effecting opening of said control circuit to terminate operation of said first motor; and means including said actuating member operable to close said control circuit across said control unit switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,606,245 Lang Nov. 9, 1926 1,773,130 Denniston Aug. 19, 1930 2,290,626 Bosomworth July 21, 1942 2,360,321 Griswold Oct. 17, 1944 2,421,481 Collins June 3, 1947 2,478,702 Moody Aug. 9, 1949 2,551,395 Rimann May 1, 1951 2,858,496 Davis Oct. 28, 1958 

